Sprinkler-head.



PATENTBD MAY 26,1908.

P. EVANS: SPRINKLER HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1902.

:10 MO EL UNITED STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

POWELL EVANS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL SPRINKLER COMPANY, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANI A OORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRINKLER-HEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 729,306, dated May 26, 1903. Application filed September 25,1902. Serial No. 124,75 7. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, POWELL EVANS, a citi zen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Sprinkler-Heads, Of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in fire-extinguishing apparatus; and it consists more particularly in improvements in the detail construction of sprinkler-heads, the object of the invention being to provide a head which by virtue of the improvements hereinafter Set forth shall be not only more certain to operate when the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere has risen above a predetermined limit, but which shall also more efficiently discharge water after having been operated by such temperatue rise. These objects I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sprinkler-head embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the sprinkler-head, showing the detail construction of the same and the relative position of the various improved devices therefor. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective of the valve of the sprinklerhead with its releasing-spring and washer; and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the valve and valve-seat, showing the releasing-spring in the position Occupied before the levers and their con necting-links are assembled.

In the above drawings, A is the framework of the sprinkler-head,consisting of a tubular nozzle at, having threads at for attachment to a Water-supply system and provided with a valve-seat a to which is fitted a valve B. The end of the .tubular portion A is formed square in the present instance, and to this portion is attached the yoke-section a upon which is revolubly carried the Water deflecting and distributing member 0 of the sprin kler-head. As shown in the drawings, this member is held in position upon the yoke by means of a screw D,which passes through the central portion of the yoke and has a depression in its end for the accommodation of an arm of one of the levers E for retaining the valve B in its closed position.

The valve B is retained in its closed position by two levers E and F engaging one another, so as to form a toggle-joint, there being a link formed of two platesfand 6 held together by fusible solder f, by means of which the lovers are normally retained in nosition to keep the valve closed against fluidpressure exerted from within the nozzle a. Upon the sides of one of the levers (in the present instance the lever E) are projections 6, designed to contact with the side portions of the yoke a so as to prevent the possibility of the lever system being turned on its ver ,tical axis to such an extent as to contact with said yoke and by this means avoid the risk of corrosion occurring to such extent that proper action of the parts of the sprinkler would be impossible. While it might be possible to place these projections on the side members of the yoke, I have found that such construction causes a shadow or unsprinkled area of appreciable extent when the sprinkler is in operation, whereas by placing the said lugs upon one of the levers it can in no way interfere with the most eflicient action of the device, since said lever falls out of the Way of the outflowing water when the fusible material melts.

The Valve B in my improved sprinkler is provided upon its under face with lugs or projections b, and there is a concave springdisk I) and a washer b arranged to be placed between the valve and its seat. It will be seen that the spring-disk has apertures b for the reception of said lugs, while the washer has cavities or depressed portions for the same purpose, the depressions being preferably so made that projections b are formed upon the opposite face of the washer b", which serve to center said washer, with its spring and valve, upon the valve-seat. It will be seen that such construction of the valve, with its disk spring and washer, does away with the possibility of improper seating of said valve, the spring, moreover, serving to insure the rising of said valve from its seat irrespective of the pressure within the nozzle as soon as the system of levers has been released by the melting of the fusible material b. The particular advantage of this particular construction and arrangement of parts will be understood when it is noted that by it the only portion of the device in any way exposed to the possible corrosive action of the water is the under side of a part of the washer 12 while the spring and valve are protected in a manner not hitherto possible with the constructions at present known to the art. The special form of the spring is such that it acts in a quick and efficient manner to insure the release of the valve from its seat immediately upon the melting of the fusible material and the parting of the two levers. I preferably make the washer b of copper, while the valve, its spring, and seat are usually constructedofbronze,thusfurther minimizing the probability of corrosion of these members and preventing their sticking together. Upon the release of the levers E and F by the melting of the fusible materialf, due to a rise of temperature above the predetermined point, the pressure in the supply system connected to the nozzle a, aided by the spring I), immediately forces the valve and said levers out of the way, while the stream of liquid issuing from said nozzle strikes the screw D and the deflecting and distributing member 0, causing the latter to revolve in the wellknown manner. Owing to the fact that there is no projecting portion upon the yoke a the water is distributed over the greatest possible area without any unnecessary shadowed spaces.

I claim as my invention 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a nozzle having a valveseat and a valve, a washer of sheet material engaging the valve-seat and a spring between the washer and the valve, substantially as described.

2. A sprinkler-head having a frame including a nozzle constructed to be connected to a sprinkler system, a valve for said nozzle, levers for normally retaining said valve in its closed position and a spring of curved sheet material underneath said valve, substantially as described.

3. In a sprinkler-head, the combination of a frame having a nozzle for connection to a. sprinkler system, a valve normally closing said nozzle, lovers in engagement with the valve and the frame for retaining the valve in its closed position, a curved disk spring for releasing said valve and a washer between said spring and the end of the nozzle, substantially as described.

4:. Asprinkler-head comprising a frame and a nozzle for connection to a sprinkler system, said nozzle being provided with a valve-seat and having a valve for said seat, a system of levers in engagement with the frame and the valve for normally retaining the latter in its closed position, said valve having projections, and a curved spring of sheet material having cavities for the reception of said projections through the valve, substantially as described.

5. A sprinkler-head including a frame having a nozzle for connection to a sprinkler system, a valve for the nozzle with a system of levers engaging the frame and the valve for normally retaining the latter in its closed position, a spring of curved sheet material and a washer between the valve and the end of the nozzle, projections on one of said members, the spring having holes for said projections and the third member having depressions for the reception of said projections after they pass through the apertures of said spring, substantially as described.

6. A sprinkler-head comprising a frame, a portion for connection to a sprinkler system, said portion being provided with a valve-seat, a valve for said seat, a system of levers engaging the frame and the valve for normally retaining the latter in its closed position, there being on one face of the valve a series of projections all arranged at points on the circumference of a circle substantially concentric with the valve-seat and placed to contact with said portion in which the seat is formed along relatively-limited areas whereby the valve is retained in position while contacting with said portion to a minimum extent, substantially as described.

7. A sprinkler-head having a nozzle, a valve for closing the same and a washer between the nozzle and said valve, said washer having a series of projecting portions whereby it is retained in position upon the nozzle and the valve having means whereby it is retained in place upon said washer, said projecting portions of the washer having a relatively small portion of their surfaces in contact with the nozzle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

POWELL EVANS.

Witnesses:

ROY RAUDENBUSH, J os. H. KLEIN. 

